• Why resorts continue to be a great meeting destination.
Where else, other than a resort, can you work during the day and relax with the best of amenities at night? Resorts offer a laid back and comfortable atmosphere so that even when you’re at a meeting, your stresses diminish. Midwest Meetings spoke with three professionals in the meetings industry to find out what some resorts are able to provide for meeting planners.
Midwest Meetings: Describe why meeting planners should consider resorts when looking for a meeting spot?
Jeff Wild: Resorts offer the ultimate mix of business and pleasure. Our convenient location just off of I-94 and halfway between the Twin Cities and Fargo make us an easy meetings destination. Our planners love the fact our meeting space and meal space is all under one roof. Our larger groups appreciate the flexibility of having over 100 exhibit booths, breakout meetings, general sessions and meals all in one central area. Once business is complete, we offer a wide variety of team- building activities and leisure time activities to satisfy everyone in their group.
Where else, other than a resort, can you work during the day and relax with the best of amenities at night? Resorts offer a laid back and comfortable atmosphere so that even when you’re at a meeting, your stresses diminish. Midwest Meetings spoke with three professionals in the meetings industry to find out what some resorts are able to provide for meeting planners.
Midwest Meetings: Describe why meeting planners should consider resorts when looking for a meeting spot?
Jeff Wild: Resorts offer the ultimate mix of business and pleasure. Our convenient location just off of I-94 and halfway between the Twin Cities and Fargo make us an easy meetings destination. Our planners love the fact our meeting space and meal space is all under one roof. Our larger groups appreciate the flexibility of having over 100 exhibit booths, breakout meetings, general sessions and meals all in one central area. Once business is complete, we offer a wide variety of team- building activities and leisure time activities to satisfy everyone in their group.
Jeannette S. Teall: The Swan Lake Resort in Indiana is a destination resort featuring a Convention Center with 33,000 sq. ft. of versatile meeting venues, state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and wireless connectivity. We are home to the United States Golf Academy and Indiana National golf Club featuring two championship golf courses. If you meet here, they will come. After the meeting wrap up, wind down at the Main Course Restaurant and Fireside Lounge and Patio.
David Holtz: Bridgeport in Wisconsin offers excellent facilities for meetings… beautiful accommodations with a wonderful setting overlooking Green Bay. As our customer’s say, “The only thing more spectacular than the view and the location, is the exceptional service and outstanding accommodations.”
MM: What do resorts provide that appeals to meeting planners?
JW: At the Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center, we can offer formal and professional meetings, meals, fun and exciting teambuilding events and leisure time activities. Our conference service staff takes care of all the details from setting up golf tee times, teambuilding activities, spa appointments, horseback riding and of course, all the meal arrangements so groups don’t have to worry about a thing!
JT: Meeting attendees can enjoy the experience of staying in our log cabins, cottages, Fairway House, villas and our traditional hotel rooms. Amenities on property include a full-service Spa and salon, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, saunas, tanning bed, hot tubs, lighted tennis courts, horseshoe pits and camp fire rings. Swan Lake Resort has a small town feel with metropolitan appeal. Did I mention Free Parking?
DH: Bridgeport Resort offers three meeting rooms accommodating from 12 to 80 people – amenities include large flat panel televisions, state-of-the-art equipment and an abundance of natural light. Your experience at our resort is complimented by an indoor and outdoor pool, wireless internet, fitness center and a convenience store.
MM: Resorts offer plenty of space for meeting planners to hold teambuilding activities. What types of special activities are held at resorts?
JW: What makes this business so fun is the variety of groups and events that we get to host. We could write a book on memorable events. The best ones are the ones that keep coming back, year-after-year which a majority of our groups do.
JT: Meeting planners love our property because everything is onsite; conference center and the recreational activities. A teambuilding activity features our indoor golf academy simulators and is called, Survivor Golf. Another popular activity is a scavenger hunt on our 700 acres, some of which is wooded. A Western Bar-B- Que themed event by the log cabins camp fire-ring is a fun laid back event, complete with entertainment. Our specialty is to custom design every detail around the meeting planner’s vision and theme for their event.
DH: Bridgeport has hosted numerous organizations, big and small, high profile and discreet… including the Green Bay Packer© football operations team. Teambuilding activities range from seminars offered in conjunction with the Sturgeon Bay campus of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) to fishing adventures and scavenger hunts.
MM: Since there are so many resorts in the Midwest, how can resorts make themselves look and feel different than the rest?
JW: Our goal is to provide our groups with the finest service and accommodations. We are undergoing an extensive room renovation, which will be 100% completed by this summer.
JT: Our location being in rural Northern Indiana is a challenge, as we do not get the drive by marketing and publicity like our big city competitors. But I use our location as a great advantage and selling tool. Our location is what makes us stand out from our competition.
DH: Bridgeport enjoys longevity with the entire staff and thus offers a unique level of quality service. Every guest is treated with the courtesy and respect that is the basis of Bridgeport’s success. Meeting planners are constantly aware of the management’s presence during the booking, event and into the departure. Our mission is to provide a guest experience that is the compelling reason to return to Bridgeport.
David Holtz: Bridgeport in Wisconsin offers excellent facilities for meetings… beautiful accommodations with a wonderful setting overlooking Green Bay. As our customer’s say, “The only thing more spectacular than the view and the location, is the exceptional service and outstanding accommodations.”
MM: What do resorts provide that appeals to meeting planners?
JW: At the Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center, we can offer formal and professional meetings, meals, fun and exciting teambuilding events and leisure time activities. Our conference service staff takes care of all the details from setting up golf tee times, teambuilding activities, spa appointments, horseback riding and of course, all the meal arrangements so groups don’t have to worry about a thing!
JT: Meeting attendees can enjoy the experience of staying in our log cabins, cottages, Fairway House, villas and our traditional hotel rooms. Amenities on property include a full-service Spa and salon, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, saunas, tanning bed, hot tubs, lighted tennis courts, horseshoe pits and camp fire rings. Swan Lake Resort has a small town feel with metropolitan appeal. Did I mention Free Parking?
DH: Bridgeport Resort offers three meeting rooms accommodating from 12 to 80 people – amenities include large flat panel televisions, state-of-the-art equipment and an abundance of natural light. Your experience at our resort is complimented by an indoor and outdoor pool, wireless internet, fitness center and a convenience store.
MM: Resorts offer plenty of space for meeting planners to hold teambuilding activities. What types of special activities are held at resorts?
JW: What makes this business so fun is the variety of groups and events that we get to host. We could write a book on memorable events. The best ones are the ones that keep coming back, year-after-year which a majority of our groups do.
JT: Meeting planners love our property because everything is onsite; conference center and the recreational activities. A teambuilding activity features our indoor golf academy simulators and is called, Survivor Golf. Another popular activity is a scavenger hunt on our 700 acres, some of which is wooded. A Western Bar-B- Que themed event by the log cabins camp fire-ring is a fun laid back event, complete with entertainment. Our specialty is to custom design every detail around the meeting planner’s vision and theme for their event.
DH: Bridgeport has hosted numerous organizations, big and small, high profile and discreet… including the Green Bay Packer© football operations team. Teambuilding activities range from seminars offered in conjunction with the Sturgeon Bay campus of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) to fishing adventures and scavenger hunts.
MM: Since there are so many resorts in the Midwest, how can resorts make themselves look and feel different than the rest?
JW: Our goal is to provide our groups with the finest service and accommodations. We are undergoing an extensive room renovation, which will be 100% completed by this summer.
JT: Our location being in rural Northern Indiana is a challenge, as we do not get the drive by marketing and publicity like our big city competitors. But I use our location as a great advantage and selling tool. Our location is what makes us stand out from our competition.
DH: Bridgeport enjoys longevity with the entire staff and thus offers a unique level of quality service. Every guest is treated with the courtesy and respect that is the basis of Bridgeport’s success. Meeting planners are constantly aware of the management’s presence during the booking, event and into the departure. Our mission is to provide a guest experience that is the compelling reason to return to Bridgeport.
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